Vale, Steelworkers to resume talks Wednesday

While there's no word on how events are progressing, representatives from Vale Inco and Steelworkers are scheduled to meet again Wednesday and Thursday in their efforts to end the seven-month strike in Sudbury and Port Colborne.

The sides have been meeting with the help of arbitrator-mediator Kevin Burkett at a Toronto hotel since the weekend.

About 3,200 members of the two USW locals have been on strike against Vale Inco since July 13 over the issues of pensions, nickel bonuses and seniority transfer rights.

There have been no formal talks since early July, but lead negotiators Wayne Fraser, USW District 6 director, and Toronto labour lawyer Harvey Beresford have had discussions in recent weeks.

Talks have now ended as United Steelworkers International Executive Board will be taking the oath of office for the 2010–2014 term today at 2 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 655 Dixon Road, in Toronto.

The event will install all international officers, including the Canadian Directors: National Director Ken Neumann, Western and Northern Director Stephen Hunt, Ontario and Atlantic Canada Director Wayne Fraser, and Quebec Director Daniel Roy.